Convertible shipping pallet

ABSTRACT

Improved reuseable and convertible shipping pallet of cradlelike design having truss-like reinforcing elements and special attachments whereby the pallet can be used to ship either flat or annular shaped products with equal facility and can be handled equally well by various types of pallet handling equipment such as lift trucks, cranes, etc.

United States Patent [191 Tilseth 51 Aug. 21, 1973 CONVERTIBLE SHIPPINGPALLET [75] Inventor: Arne B. Tilseth, Oakland, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation, Oakland, Calif.

[22] Filed: Apr. 5, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 241,255

[52] US. Cl 108/53, 108/58, 108/51 [51] Int. Cl 865d 19/38 [58] Field ofSearch ..108/51-58; 248/119, 361; 206/46; 214/621 [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 3,285,204 9/1966 Schweitzer, Jr 108/55 3,590,7522/1969 Pew 108/55 2,662,710 12/1953 Lapham 108/52 2,431,589 11/1947Shuler, Jr 108/55 X 2,046,095 6/1936 Shaw 108/53 X 2,803,363 8/1957Hutchinson... 214/621 2,958,492 11/1960 Maynard 248/119 R 3,472,36310/1969 Rustin, Jr. et al. 206/46 3,476,260 11/1969 Jay 211/71 3,563,1842/1971 Angelbeck, Jr 108/51 Primary Examiner-Francis K. Zugel AssistantExaminer-Glenn O. Finch AttorneyPaul E. Calrow et a1.

[ 5 7 ABSTRACT Improved reuseable and convertible shipping pallet ofcradle-like design having truss-like reinforcing elements and specialattachments whereby the pallet can be used to ship either flat orannular shaped products with equal facility and can be handled equallywell by various types of pallet handling equipment such as lift trucks,cranes, etc.

20 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures Patented Aug; 21, 1973 3,753,407

2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Aug. 21, 1973 3,753,407

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 CONVERTIBLE SHIPPING PALLET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a reuseable shipping pallet or skid.More particularly, it relates to an improved cradle-like shipping palletfor handling a wide variety of differently shaped products and which canbe readily adapted for use with various numerous product shapes by meansof simplified attachments.

In the past, numerous reuseable shipping pallets have been designed tohandle specialized cargo some of which are shown in U.S. Pats. Nos.2,445,152; 3,315,800; 3,430,586; 3,472,363; and 3,507,415. These priorshipping pallets were equipped with various types of load engagingsupport pad(s) and tie downs for securing the load to the support pad(s)and in turn to the pallets. The shipping pallets of the prior art,however, were usually designed to handle but one type of load and eventhese pallets failed to provide for ready handling by a fork lift truck,a crane or grappling books, etc. In addition, many types of pallets hadonly one use and when returnable had to be returned in an emptycondition that took up valuable cargo space and without carrying auseful load.

The improved cradle-like shipping pallet of the instant inventionbecause of its unique design is exceptionally rugged and flexible bothas to the type of loads it can carry as well as with respect to thedifferent types of handling equipment that can be used to handle theloaded pallet. For example, the pallet is accessible by different typesof handling equipment endwise or crosswise of the same and can behandled equally well by grappling hooks, cranes, fork lift trucks, andcargo booms. This means that the pallet has in effect exceptionalversatility in its uses and because of its rugged design is capable ofwithstanding substantial abuse. At the same time the reuseable andreturnable pallet because of certain attachments can be used to ship onetype of article in one direction and a different type of product in itsreturn trip to its point of origin whereby it can carry a useful load atall times.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a primary purpose of theinstant invention to provide an improved rugged recyclable or reuseablecradle-like shipping pallet that with a few ad'- justments to its loadsupporting surfaces can be made to handle a wide variety of products andbe handled by numerous types of cargo hoisting devices.

The pallet is generally comprised of a plurality of spaced runners and apair of spaced hollow support pads offset inwardly from and disposedcrosswise of the outer ends of the spaced runners and forming acradlelike load support. Each pad is preferably of inverted V- shapedconfiguration in transverse cross section and comes equipped with aninternal fitting that gives the pad truss-like structuralcharacteristics. A support pad may have a resilient pad-like means orcushion attached thereto for resiliently engaging and supporting a loadthereon.

The pallet can further include reinforced guide and gusset elementsdisposed outwardly of a support pad at either end of the pallet. Asadjustable belt device or other suitable strapping arrangement canextend between and be interconnected to opposed reinforcing guide andgusset elements at opposite ends of the pallet for anchoring a loadintermediate the support pads and the belt device or between the beltdevice and an auxiliary floor element, etc.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention an auxiliary palletattachment or floor element preferably of inverted channel shapedconfiguration and corrugated construction can be interposed between theopposed reinforcing guide and gusset elements so as to provide a flatcargo support surface above the plane of the support pads and in effectconvert the pallet from one of cradle-like configuration to one offlat-bed configuration. The floor element includes opposed multipurposelugs such as for stacking and storage purposes, etc. Various beveledand/or slotted portions at opposite ends of the pallet fixture or floorelement are operatively associated with the opposed reinforcing guideand gusset elements of the main pallet for assisting interlocking andpositioning of a floor element between the ends of the main pallet.

Certain portions of the support pads and reinforcing guide and gussetelements of a given pallet may be removed to enable easy stacking of onepallet upon another.

The pallet is so proportioned that when a load is prepacked by plasticbagged materials or other readily flangible materials the load does notnoticeably protrude from the pallet whereby the packaging materials canbe readily damaged or torn by contact with foreign objects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspectiveview of a shipping pallet incorporating a preferred embodiment of theshipping pallet of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a reduced schematic perspective view of a prepackaged orenclosed load that can be carried by the pallet of the instantinvention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a section of the auxiliaryfloor element that can be used with the pallet of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a reduced and partial side elevational and diagrammatic viewillustrating in dotted lines pallets solid linespallets of the instantinvention when they are stacked one upon the other;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view taken along line 5-5 at FIG. 4, rotatedclockwise and with certain parts removed;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation with certain parts removed and other partsadded as taken along line 6-6 of FIG. I and indicates how the pallet canbe converted to handle differently shaped articles;

FIG. 7 is an end view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6 and with portionsremoved;

FIG. 8 is a partial diagrammatic side view along line 8-8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged plan view with parts removed and other partsbroken away taken within the bounds of encompassing line 9 of FIG. I andillustrates a typical turn buckle device that can be used with thepallet of the instant invention;

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view with parts added when takenalong line 10-10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view when taken along line 11-41 of FIG.9; and

FIG. 12 is a reduced diagrammatic elevational view of a pair ofauxiliary floor elements in stacked relation to each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION With further reference to the drawings and inparticular FIG. 1, this Figure illustrates a preferred use for theimproved convertible shipping pallet of the instant invention such as ashipping pallet for coiled aluminum sheet stock 12. The pallet isgenerally comprised of a plurality of parallel spaced runners or skids14 and at least one pair of hollow reinforced load support pads 16. Pads16 are disposed crosswise upon and at the same time are offset inwardlyof the ends of spaced runners 14. A reinforcing and pad protecting guideand gusset fitting 18 extends outward of a support pad at either end ofthe pallet and is suitably anchored to the skids 14. A belt device 20extends between and is interconnected to the opposed reinforcing guideand gusset fittings 18 in order to anchor a load to the pads 16. Thehollow pads 16 not only provide improved support and anchoring of a loadto the pallet but in addition convenient and readily accessible sidepocket openings for receiving the fork of a fork lift truck (not shown)or other grappling device elements. The aligned ends of pads 16 andguide and gusset fittings 18 are selectively cut away on either side ofpallet so as to facilitate stacking of one pallet upon another in aunique manner that is further described hereinafter.

An auxiliary attachment or load carrying floor element 22 of invertedand approximately channel shaped configuration can be mounted in uniquefashion on a pallet 10 in order to convert the pallet from a metal coilhandling pallet to a different load handler such as a carrier ofvertically stacked balled and compressed cubicles of scrap metal 24 allas depicted in FIGS. 6 and 8. As will become more fully apparenthereinafter pallet floor attachment 22 and opposed reinforcing guide andgusset fittings 18 are provided with cooperating means for expediting,positioning and interlocking of a floor element between the ends of apallet. If desired and as indicated in FIG. 2 the metal coil 12 may beenclosed and hermatically sealed within a plastic bag 26 and since thecovered coil does not protrude from the pallet the protective covering26 is not readily exposed to damage.

Since pallet 10 is generally symmetrical about its longitudinal andtransverse axes a description of one end and side of the pallet willsuffice for each end and side.

A runner or skid rail 14 can be comprised of an elongated l-beam 28. Thelower outer end of the central web of a beam 28 is cut away to define anupward and outward beveled edge. The lower outer flange end of thebottom flange of a beam 28 is bent upwardly and outwardly and connectedto its associated beveled edge to provide a beam 28 with a lower outerbevelled outer end or heel portion 30, all as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4and 6-8. This rail heel portion 30 aids in handling and manoeuvering apallet, for instance, and effectively prevents digging-in of a palletend into a floor support (not shown) during handling of the pallet.

The inverted V-shaped pads 16 with their opposed downwardly andoutwardly inclined walls 29 and 31 are disposed crosswise of and areadvantageously offset inwardly of the outer extremities of two I-beamrunners 28. The lower ends of pad walls 29 and 31 are affixed directlyto the top surfaces of pallet side runners 28 all as viewed in FIGS. 1and 4. Opposed inner walls 31 of a spaced pair of pads 16 act to definethe bottom of a cradle-like pocket or well 32 within which a coil ofmetal 12 can be deposited and rigidly lodged. Cushion elements 34 ofresilient material, for example, neoprene, may be suitably affixed tothe outer surface portions of a pad wall 31 to cushion the coil loaddeposited on pallet 10 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4. If desired, areinforcing web 36 can extend between and be interconnected to the loweredges of opposed inner walls 31 as well as extending between and beinginterconnected to opposed top surface portions of the two side skidrails 14.

An inverted fitting 38 of approximately channelshaped configuration isinserted in the bottom opening of a pad 16 and extends fully between theopposite ends of the pad. Opposed lower outer ends of dependent channellegs 40 to 42 of the fitting 38 disposed on either side of pallet 10'areaffixed to their associated top surface portions of a given pallet sidebeam 28 as shown in FIG. 1. Outer surface portions of leg 40 of a givenfitting 38 and the upper side edge of opposite leg 42 of a given fittingare also connected to their associated opposed inner surface portions ofthe opposite walls 29 and 31 of its respective pad 16 and within theopening thereof as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6. By virtue of theopposed dependent channel legs 40 and 42 of a fitting 38 being affixedto opposed side skid rails 14 as well as to opposed inner wall surfacesof a pad 16 and within the pad opening each pad will in effect be givena reinforced truss-like structure of rugged design and substantialstrength.

A fitting 38 within the opening of a pad 16 helps to define an openended side pocket 43 for freely receiving the fork 44 of a fork-lifttruck and each reinforcing guide and gusset fitting 18 that extendsoutwardly of a pad 16 at either end of pallet 10 is provided with anoutward extension 46 that extends outwardly from the lower outer edge ofthe outer wall 29 of a pad 16. The outer extremity of extension 46includes an upstanding flange 48 and a folded back flange 50 connectedthereto. A trapezoidally-shaped end plate 49 is interposed between andinterconnected to the outer web end of a rail 28 and the associatedlower outer corner end of the respective flange 48 in order to provide arelatively smooth reinforced end bumper assembly for pallet 10 at eitherend thereof.

Each overall fitting 18 can include upstanding laterally spaced guideand reinforcing gusset plates 52. Each plate fits within and bridges thegap or upwardly opening pocket 53 located between the outer wall 29 of apad 16 and end wall 48 of a fitting 18. Plates 52 stiffen the fitting l8and reinforce the same against damage and abuse during normal use of thepallet and at the same time act as guide plates in a manner to bedescribed.

Each fitting flange 50 is partially cut away in the area of itsconnection to a plate 52 to define a channelshaped slot 54 for receivingan anchor bolt 56.

A belt device 20 that extends between and is interconnected to anchorbolts 56 is comprised of an elongated belt or strap 59 of flexiblestretch resistant weblike fabric or the like, the ends of which arefixed to separate anchor bolts 56 mounted in opposed pallet slots 54.The outer free ends of an anchor bolt 56 are bent inwardly and affixedto the outer surface portions of pallet extension 46 all as indicated inFIGS. 6-7.

The bolt 56 is of sufficient size whereby the web portion 58 thereof isdisposed above or clears the top surface of its associated upper flange50 and the top edge of its respective inner guide plate 52. One end of abelt 59 is looped about the associated web 58 of its respective anchorbolt 56 thereby pivotally connecting the loop 60 of strap 59 to itsassociated anchor bolt 56 at an outer corner of pallet all as depictedin FIGS. 1 and 6.

As indicated particularly in FIGS. 1, 6 and 9-11, a belt deviceadvantageously includes a turn buckle 62 for adjustably and pivotallyconnecting the opposite end 64 of a given strap 59 to its associatedanchor bolt at the opposite end of a pallet 10. The turn buckle can becomprised of opposed Z-shaped side plates interconnected by a base plate68 having opposed side corner lugs 69 at one end thereof. A bolt-nutassembly 70 fits within aligned apertures in plates 66 and serves toconnect plates 66 together. Lugs 69 of base plate 68 also becomeinserted through the aligned slots 67 in plates 66 when base plate 68 isinserted between and connected to side plates 66. A reel 72 extendsbetween and is rotatably connected to opposed side plates 66 at theiroutwardly offset ends. Reel 72 is made up of a pair of parallel spacedbar elements 74 and a sprocket gear 76 connected to adjacent and alignedopposed ends of the pair of bar elements 74 at either side of turnbuckle 62. The opposed outer reduced and threaded ends 78 of reel 72 areinserted through aligned openings at the outwardly offset ends of plate66 upon both base plate 68 and bolt assembly 70 being assembled betweenside plates 66 as aforedescribed. A suitable nut washer assembly 80 isappropriately connected to the outer reduced end 78 of reel 72 at eitherend thereof to complete the mounting of reel 72 between side plates 66of a turn buckle 62.

A side plate 66 has an enlarged slot 82 laterally offset from smallerslot 67 as viewed in FIG. 11. A C-shaped latch plate 84 extends betweenopposed side plates 66 and slidably connects to the opposed plateswithin the enlarged slots thereof as shown in FIGS. 9-11. A coil spring86 extends between and is interconnected to an intermediate lug 88 oflatch plate 84 and the opposed and aligned hooked end 90 of base plate68. Because of coil spring 86 being connected between plates 68 and 84,outer surface portions of the projecting or toothed end 92 of plate 84on either side of a given turn buckle is biased into overlapped latchingengagement with the leading edge 93 of an associated sprocket tooth 94of its respective reel sprocket 76 as indicated in FIGS. 9-10.

A chain-type link 96 is pivotally connected to web 58 of an anchor bolt56 at the turn buckle end of pallet 10 prior to the free ends of theanchor bolt being secured in place on extension 46. As a bolt 70 isconnected to the necked-in end of turn buckle 62 it is inserted throughthe opening of link 96 thereby pivotally connecting a turn buckle 62 toits associated anchor bolt 56. If desired, a sleeve 98 can be disposedabout the shank of bolt 70 for minimizing frictional engagement betweenthe shank of bolt 70 and the bolt end of link 96.

As indicated in FIG. 10 leading portions of a strap 59 at its turnbuckle end 64 are initially threaded from right to left through a slot100 between the pair of reel bars 74. After initially threading theleading portions of the belt strap and 64 through bar opening 100 thetrailing portions of the belt strap end 64 are wrapped in counterclockwise fashion as viewed in FIG. 10 about outer peripheral surfaceportions of opposed bars 74 in order to effect connection of belt end 64to its associated reel. When a suitable wrench (not shown) engages thenut assembly end of a reel 72, the reel can be rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 10 for winding an drawing-up aturn buckle end 64 of strap 59 about its respective reel bars 74 so asto effect selective tightening and loosening of a belt 59 between itsrespective anchor bolts 56. If, however, an operator rotates nutassembly end of reel 72 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 8 andat the same time forces latching plate 84 of a turn buckle 62 againstthe action of spring 86 in a direction towards its necked-in end, reel72 can be freely rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 10.As reel 72 rotates the coiled end of strap 59 in clockwise fashion inFIG. 10 to cause unwinding of the coiled end of the strap from about thepair of reel bars 74 a loosening and a relaxation of a belt 59 about thepallet load will occur. Although other types of belt tensioning devicescan be used turn buckle 62 provides a device for effecting looseningand/or tensioning of a belt between its ends relative to the pair ofpallet support pads with or without a load disposed on the pair thereof.

In still another advantageous embodiment of the invention and asindicated particularly in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, a pallet 10 is provided withspecial portions for vertically stacking the pallet upon another. Eachone of the intersecting walls 29 and 31 of a support pad 16 at eitherend thereof is cut away in a downwardly and outwardly inclined fashioninwardly of the associated outer end of its respective fitting 38 inorder to provide both a beveled end of a given support pad 16 and aledge 102' on top of the adjacent web end of the fitting associatedtherewith. A triangularly shaped plate 104' may be appropriatelyinserted at the beveled end of a pad 16 for reinforcing the beveled endthereof as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 6. The inwardly facing edge of a topflange 50 at an outer comer end thereof is cut away and defined by anL-shaped notch 108', as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5.

By virtue of the ends of a support pad of a pallet 10 being beveled andthe spacing that exists between opposed notched edges 108' on eitherside of the pallet the pallets can be stacked one upon the other whenthe lower edges of the opposed beveled ends of an upper pallet areloosely interposed between the opposed notched edges 108' on either sideof the stacked pallets. At the same time intermediate bottom portions ofthe bottom flange or shoe of a runner 14 of an upper pallet are fittedor nested about ledge 102' of a lower pallet 10. It is to be understoodthat the top edge of an outer plate 52 of a gusset fitting 18 may becutaway as indicated at 110 in FIG. 4 so that the top edge of cut awayplate 52 is horizontally aligned with the ledge 102' of its respectivepad 16 at a given comer of the pallet. The legs of a pallet are ofsuficient height so that there is ample clearance between pallets whenthey are stacked together.

Besides the accessible side pocket openings 43 of a pallet 10 forhandling the same as aforedescribed the pallet is also accessibleendwise thereof by different types of handling equipment upon e.g., apair of forks 110 of a fork lift truck (not shown) being disposed inengagement with underneath surface portions of fitting extension 46, web32, etc. within the inverted channel shaped recess between the spacedrunners of a-given pallet 10 at either end thereof as illustrated inFIG. 1.

This accessibility of pallet facilitates handling and manoeuvering ofthe pallet with or without a load thereon.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention pallet 10 includesan inverted channel-shaped floor attachment or fixture 22 provided witha series of longitudinally extending reinforcing corrugations 102. Eachdependent leg 104 is equipped with an inwardly bent reinforcing footflange 106 and the lower outer corner of a leg 104 can be cut away todefine a beveled edge while the outer corner edges 108 of the footflange 106 are beveled. A lower portion of a floor leg 104 at either endthereof and its contiguous foot flange portion are both cut away so asto provide intersecting leg side edges 109 of inverted V-shapedconfiguration that define and bound a slot 1 10. When the fixture 102 isplaced in suitable fashion on top of pallet 10, the various gussetplates 52 fit within the slots 1 10 as the parts of legs 104 adjacentthe slots 1 10 straddle the plates 52. The maximum width at the bottomof each slot 110 is greater than the width at the top of each bolt 56 sothat the bolts 56 will clear legs 104.

Opposed and aligned pairs of inverted U-shaped lugs or handle grips 114are preferably afiixed to the upper portions of opposed legs 104 asindicated in FllGS. 3-6. A floor attachment 22 because of its relativelyflat surface converts the pallet from a cradle-like pallet to a flatsurfaced or flat bed type pallet. It can carry a wide variety of loadssuch as baled scrap metalcubicles 24 neatly arranged in compacted andvertically stacked layers all as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8. If desired, thevertically stacked layers of metal cubicles 24 may be anchored to thetop of a given floor 22 by way of auxiliary belts 118 extending betweenopposed and aligned lugs 114 at opposite ends of the floor and they canbe covered by a canvas 120 draped over the stacked cubicles prior tofinal tightening of belt 118 anchored between handles 114.

By virtue of opposed lugs 114, fixtures 22 may be stacked one uponanother for example for storage purposes prior to a fixture being usedas an attachment for pallet 10 as illustrated in FIG. 12.

The pallet converting floor attachment has an overall length and widthsuch that itcan be freely and readily fitted within opening pockets 53of the opposed guide fittings 18 at the opposite endsof a pallet andinterlocked with plates 52 as aforedescribed. The fixture 102 can beassembled with a pallet by hand or by means of the usual hoistingequipment. Because of certain features the removably mounted fixture 22is selflocating relative to the pallet, for example, the beveled ends108 and V-shaped side edges 109 adjacent slots 110 of the fixture legs104 readily straddle and fit over plates 52 of the pallet 10 so that theplates 52 can be said to guide the fixture into its proper interlockingand nesting relationship relative to pallet 10. The legs 104 of fixture22 are of sufficient length whereby the surface 102 of fixture 22readily clears the top of floor pads 16.

As illustrated in H6. 6 a pallet attachment 22 can be lowered andinterlocked to a pallet 10 without disturbing the load 24 on theattachment. After interlocking the attachment 22 with or without a loadto a pallet 10 opposed belt devices 20 can be drawn about theinterlocked attachment and pallet and the load thereby securelyanchoring all of the various elements together. When attachment orfixture 22 is removably inter- 8 locked to the main pallet 10 the upperapex edge of a support pad 16 is preferably disposed in supportingengagement with opposed underneath web portions of floor 22 as indicatedat 122 in FIG. 4.

Because of the support pads being offset inwardly from the outer ends ofa pallet and because a load 12 or 24 on pallet 10 usually has a lengthor width normally less than the overall length or width of pallet 10 thelikelihood of a load being injured or damaged iS for all practicalpurposes effectively prevented during normal use and handling of pallet10 with or without the attachment 22 being in place. The pallet 10 withor without attachment 22 is of such a design whereby it can be handledby all types of cargo handling equipment presently in use and rangingfrom lift trucks, to cargo slings and booms on vessels. A pallet loaditself or the entire top of the load and pallet can be fully coveredwith other types of packaging or wrapping materials, fOr instance, aheat shrink fitted plastic wrapping (not shown) disposed about the topof pallet 10 and load thereon besides the loosely fitting bag 26.

The simple convertibility of the returnable type pallet of the inventionfrom a cradle loader to a flat surfaced loader means that all types ofcargo can be handled regardless of whether the returnable pallet ismoving from the original shipper to a buyer or vice versa.

Finally, pallet 10 with or without attachment 22 and- /or load thereonis capable of being handled from one transportation mode to another,e.g., from truck trailer to rail car, etc. as the pallet is shippedbetween shipping points. The instant fixture could be used as anairborne pallet and in this instance may be made of lightweight metalsuch as aluminum alloy.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention have been shown and describedand it is obvious that various changes and modifications can be madetherein without departing from the appended claims, wherein:

What is claimed is:

1. A convertible shipping pallet of the type described comprising aplurality of spaced runners, hollow spaced support pads mountedcrosswise upon said runners and defining therebetween an upwardlyopening pocket for receiving a coil of metal and the like, said padsbeing offset inwardly of the outer ends of said runners and beingprovided with hollow interior interconnected fittings which functionboth to rigidify and reinforce said pads against collapse under a loadand to provide receptacles for a lift means such as the forks of a forklift truck and said pallet being further provided with upwardly openingand reinforced pocket means at opposing ends of said pallet, saidupwardly opening pocket means being adapted to removably receive thelegs of an auxiliary pallet converting floor element and said pocketmeans being provided with combination guide and reinforcing plate meanswhich are adapted to slidingly and interlockingly engage such a palletconverting floor element when the legs of the said pallet convertingfloor element are disposed in said pocket means.

2. A pallet as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pads comprise invertedvrshaped members.

3. A pallet as set forth in claim 1 including resilient cushion-likeelements affixed to said pads for directly supporting and contacting thepallet load.

4. A pallet as set forth in claim 1 in which a support pad and theinterior fitting connected thereto define an integrated load supportingstructure of truss-like configuration.

5. A pallet as set froth in claim 1 in which the interior fitting of asupport pad is of approximately inverted channel-shaped configuration intransverse cross section.

6. A pallet as set forth in claim 1 in which the outer lower extremitiesof the runners are beveled.

7. A pallet as set forth in claim 1 including an adjustable belt meansaffixed to said pallet for securing a load to said support pads.

8. A pallet as set forth in claim 1 in which the opposed ends of a givenpad are provided with opposed ledge means, said opposed ledge means ofone pallet being adapted to engage and support certain portions of thespaced runners of another pallet upon the certain portions of the spacedrunners of the other pallet being disposed upon and between the opposedledge means of the one pallet.

9. A convertible shipping pallet of the type described comprising aplurality of spaced runners, hollow spaced support pads mounted upon andcrosswise of said runners and defining therebetween an upwardly openingpocket for receiving a coil of metal and the like, said pads beingoffset inwardly of the outer ends of said runners and being providedwith interconnected hollow interior fittings which function both torigidify and reinforce said pads against collapse under a load and toprovide receptacles for a pallet lift means such as the forks of a forklift truck, a separate pallet fitting provided with upwardly opening andreinforced pocket means interposed between a support pad and theadjacent outer extremities of said runners at each end of the pallet andan auxiliary pallet attachment removably mounted within the upwardlyopening pocket means and converting said pallet to a flat bed-typepallet.

10. A pallet as set forth in claim 9 wherein said upwardly opening andreinforced pocket means are reinforced with gusset-like elements whichinterengage and interlock with selected portions of said palletattachment.

11. A pallet as set forth in claim 9 in which the opposed ends of agiven pad are provided with opposed ledge means, said opposed ledgemeans of one pallet supporting and engaging certain portions of spacedrunners of another pallet when the spaced runners of the other palletare disposed upon and between the opposed ledge means of the one pallet.

12. A pallet as set forth in claim 11 in which said pallet fittingincludes opposed notch means disposed in alignment with the opposedledge means of a given support pad, said opposed notch means of onepallet being disposed in spaced relation to the associated outerextremities of the respective spaced runners of the other pallet ascertain portions of the spaced runners of the other pallet are disposedupon and in engagement with the opposed ledge means of a given supportpad of the one pallet.

13. A pallet as set forth in claim 9 in which said pallet attachment isof inverted channel-shaped configuration and is provided with aplurality of reinforcing corrugations.

14. A pallet as set forth in claim 9 in which said pallet attachment isprovided with lug means for securing a load thereon.

15. A pallet as set forth in claim 9 including adjustable belt means forsecuring a load to said pallet attachment.

16. A pallet as set forth in claim 10 wherein the selected portions ofthe pallet attachment which interengage and interlock with thegusset-like elements comprise legs on the attachment which have slottedsections.

17. A pallet as set forth in claim 10 including a belt means extendingbetween and interconnected to the reinforcing gusset-like elements forsecuring a load between said belt means and said pallet attachment.

18. A pallet as set forth in claim 17 in which said belt means includesa turn buckle device for adjusting and selectively tensioning said beltmeans.

19. A pallet as set forth in claim 10 in which said pallet attachmentcomprises an inverted and approximately channel-shaped floor elementhaving dependent legs provided with slots for receiving the gusset-likeelements when the attachment is removably mounted on the pallet and saidgusset-like elements acting to center and position the attachment onsaid pallet.

20. A pallet as set forth in claim 19 in which a dependent channel legof said pallet attachment is beveled at an outer end thereof.

II 4' 4' 4 t

1. A convertible shipping pallet of the type described comprising aplurality of spaced runners, hollow spaced support pads mountedcrosswise upon said runners and defining therebetween an upwardlyopening pocket for receiving a coil of metal and the like, said padsbeing offset inwardly of the outer ends of said runners and beingprovided with hollow interior interconnected fittings which functionboth to rigidify and reinforce said pads against collapse under a loadand to provide receptacles for a lift means such as the forks of a forklift truck and said pallet being further provided with upwardly openingand reinforced pocket means at opposing ends of said pallet, saidupwardly opening pocket means being adapted to removably receive thelegs of an auxiliary pallet converting floor element and said pocketmeans being provided with combination guide and reinforcing plate meanswhich are adapted to slidingly and interlockingly engage such a palletconverting floor element when the legs of the said pallet convertingfloor element are disposed in said pocket means.
 2. A pallet as setforth in claim 1 wherein said pads comprise inverted V-shaped members.3. A pallet as set forth in claim 1 including resilient cushion-likeelements affixed to said pads for directly supporting and contacting thepallet load.
 4. A pallet as set forth in claim 1 in which a support padand the interior fitting connected thereto define an integrated loadsupporting structure of truss-like configuration.
 5. A pallet as setfroth in claim 1 in which the interior fitting of a support pad is ofapproximately inverted channel-shaped configuration in transverse crosssection.
 6. A pallet as set forth in claim 1 in which the outer lowerextremities of the runners are beveled.
 7. A pallet as set forth inclaim 1 including an adjustable belt means affixed to said pallet forsecuring a load to said support pads.
 8. A pallet as set forth in claim1 in which the opposed ends of a given pad are provided with opposedledge means, said opposed ledge means of one pallet being adapted toengage and support certain portions of the spaced runners of anotherpallet upon the certain portions of the spaced runners of the otherpallet being disposed upon and between the opposed ledge means of theone pallet.
 9. A convertible shipping pallet of the type describedcomprising a plurality of spaced runners, hollow spaced support padsmounted upon and crosswise of said runners and defining therebetween anupwardly opening pocket for receiving a coil of metal and the like, saidpads being offset inwardly of the outer ends of said runners and beingprovided with interconnected hollow interior fittings which functionboth to rigidify and reinforce said pads against collapse under a loadand to provide receptacles for a pallet lift means such as the forks ofa fork lift truck, a separate pallet fitting provided with upwardlyopening and reinforced pocket means interposed between a support pad andthe adjacent outer extremities of said runners at each end of the palletand an auxiliary pallet attachment removably mounted within the upwardlyopening pocket means and converting said pallet to a flat bed-typepallet.
 10. A pallet as set forth in claim 9 wherein said upwardlyopening and reinforced pocket means are reinforced with gusset-likeelements which interengage and interlock with selected portions of saidpallet attachment.
 11. A pallet as set forth in claim 9 in which theopposed ends of a given pad are provided with opposed ledge means, saidopposed ledge means of one pallet supporting and engaging certainportions of spaced runners of another pallet when the spaced runners ofthe other pallet are disposed upon and between the opposed ledge meansof the one pallet.
 12. A pallet as set forth in claim 11 in which saidpallet fitting includes opposed notch means disposed in alignment withthe opposed ledge means of a given support pad, said opposed notch meansof one pallet being disposed in spaced relation to the associated outerextremities of the respective spaced runners of the other pallet ascertain portions of the spaced runners of the other pallet are disposedupon and in engagement with the opposed ledge means of a given supportpad of the one pallet.
 13. A pallet as set forth in claim 9 in whichsaid pallet attachment is of inverted channel-shaped configuration andis provided with a plurality of reinforcing corrugations.
 14. A palletas set forth in claim 9 in which said pallet attachment is provided withlug means for securing a load thereon.
 15. A pallet as set forth inclaim 9 including adjustable belt means for securing a load to saidpallet attachment.
 16. A pallet as set forth in claim 10 wherein theselected portions of The pallet attachment which interengage andinterlock with the gusset-like elements comprise legs on the attachmentwhich have slotted sections.
 17. A pallet as set forth in claim 10including a belt means extending between and interconnected to thereinforcing gusset-like elements for securing a load between said beltmeans and said pallet attachment.
 18. A pallet as set forth in claim 17in which said belt means includes a turn buckle device for adjusting andselectively tensioning said belt means.
 19. A pallet as set forth inclaim 10 in which said pallet attachment comprises an inverted andapproximately channel-shaped floor element having dependent legsprovided with slots for receiving the gusset-like elements when theattachment is removably mounted on the pallet and said gusset-likeelements acting to center and position the attachment on said pallet.20. A pallet as set forth in claim 19 in which a dependent channel legof said pallet attachment is beveled at an outer end thereof.